Jet burner construction heating apparatus utilizing the jet burner construction and methods of making the same

ABSTRACT

A jet burner construction, heating apparatus utilizing the jet burner construction and methods of making the same are provided, the jet burner construction having opposed ends and having a fluted portion disposed spaced from and intermediate the inlet and the outlet of the burner body and having opposed ends, the fluted portion defining a central opening part and radiating portions of the outlet opening of the burner body which is generally located in the middle of the fluted portion, the fluted portion expanding and extending axially beyond the central opening part at one of the opposed ends thereof and comprising part of a flame retainer unit that also comprises a generally ring-like structure between the one of the opposed ends of the fluted portion and the one of the opposed ends of the burner body, the one of the opposed ends of the fluted portion expanding outwardly substantially at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the burner construction.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional patent application of its copendingparent patent application Ser. No. 08/072,232 filed Jun. 3, 1993 and nowU.S. Pat. No. 5,324,195.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a new jet burner construction and to a newheating apparatus utilizing such a jet burner construction as well as tonew methods of making such a jet burner construction and such a heatingapparatus.

2. Prior Art Statement

It is known to provide a jet burner construction comprising a burnerbody means having a chamber means therein and having an inlet meansleading to the chamber means for directing fuel from a fuel sourcetherein and an outlet means leading from the chamber means and definingan outlet opening means through which the fuel is adapted to issue fromthe chamber means to burn externally to the burner body means, theburner body means having a longitudinal axis extending between the inletmeans and the outlet means, the outlet opening means having a centralopening part and a plurality of spaced apart opening portionsinterconnected thereto and radiating outwardly therefrom whereby flowsof fuel respectively issuing out of the portions and the central part ofsaid outlet opening means merge together in a turbulent mannerexternally to the outlet opening means, the burner constructioncomprising flame retainer means carried by the body means and havingouter edge means extending beyond the outlet opening means of the bodymeans to prevent flows of induced air from being created between theflows of fuel issuing from the radiating portions of the outlet openingmeans, the burner body means being formed of two generally similar bodysections secured together in superimposed relation and each havingone-half of the outlet opening means and one-half of the flame retainermeans thereon, the body means having opposed ends and having a flutedportion disposed spaced from and intermediate the inlet means and theoutlet means and having opposed ends, the fluted portion defining thecentral opening part and the radiating portions of the outlet openingmeans, the outlet opening means being generally located in the middle ofthe fluted portion, the fluted portion expanding and extending axiallybeyond the central opening part at one of the opposed ends thereof andcomprising part of the flame retainer means, the flame retainer meansalso comprising a generally ring-like structure between the one of theopposed ends of the fluted portion and one of the opposed ends of thebody means, each one-half of the flame retainer means being integral andone-piece with its respective body section, the one of the opposed endsof the fluted portion expanding outwardly substantially at an angle tothe longitudinal axis. For example, see FIGS. 1-9 and 17 of thisapplication for such prior known jet burner construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one of the features of this invention to provide a new jet burnerconstruction which has a reduced tendency for the flame issuingtherefrom from expanding in a radial direction from the longitudinalaxis of the burner construction to too great an extent so that the samewill readily enter the inlet end of a heating tube that forms a heatingapparatus with such a burner construction.

In particular, it is believed that a greater control of the flameissuing from an outlet opening means of the burner construction andentering the inlet end of a heating tube means will be provided if theexpanding end of the fluted portion of the burner construction expandsoutwardly substantially at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of theburner construction rather than axially with an inclined angle thereofas in the prior known burner construction hereinafter illustrated anddescribed in connection with FIGS. 1-9 and 17.

For example, one embodiment of this invention comprises a jet burnerconstruction comprising a burner body means having a chamber meanstherein and having an inlet means leading to the chamber means fordirecting fuel from a fuel source therein and an outlet means leadingfrom the chamber means and defining an outlet opening means throughwhich the fuel is adapted to issue from the chamber means to burnexternally to the burner body means, the burner body means having alongitudinal axis extending between the inlet means and the outletmeans, the outlet opening means having a central opening part and aplurality of spaced apart opening portions interconnected thereto andradiating outwardly therefrom whereby flows of fuel respectively issuingout of the portions and the central part of the outlet opening mergetogether in a turbulent manner externally of the outlet opening means,the burner construction comprising flame retainer means carried by thebody means and having outer edge means extending beyond the outletopening means of the body means to prevent flows of induced air frombeing created between the flows of fuel issuing from the radiatingportions of the outlet opening means, the burner body means being formedof two generally similar body sections secured together in superimposedrelation and each having generally one-half of the outlet opening meansand one-half of the flame retainer means thereon, the body means havingopposed ends and having a fluted portion disposed spaced from andintermediate the inlet means and the outlet means and having opposedends, the fluted portion defining the central opening part and theradiating portions of the outlet opening means, the outlet opening meansbeing generally located in the middle of the fluted portion, the flutedportion expanding and extending axially beyond the central opening partat one of the opposed ends thereof and comprising part of the flameretainer means, the flame retainer means also comprising a generallyring-like structure between the one of the opposed ends of the flutedportion and the one of the opposed ends of the body means, each one-halfof the flame retainer means being integral and one-piece with itsrespective body section, the one of the opposed ends of the flutedportion expanding outwardly substantially at a right angle to thelongitudinal axis.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new jetburner construction having one or more of the novel features of thisinvention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new method of makingsuch a jet burner construction, the method of this invention having oneor more of the novel features of this invention as set forth above orhereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new heating apparatusutilizing such a jet burner construction, the heating apparatus of thisinvention having one or more of the novel features of this invention asset forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new method of makingsuch a heating apparatus, the method of this invention having one ormore of the novel features of this invention as set forth above orhereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from areading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the prior known jet burner construction.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top view of a plurality of the jet burnerconstructions of FIG. 1 arranged in the heating apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary end view taken in the direction of thearrows 4--4 of FIG. 2 and illustrates the outlet ends of two of the jetburner constructions without having the fuel burning at the outlet endsthereof as illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7--7 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8--8 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the various parts for formingthe jet burner construction of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates the new jet burnerconstruction of this invention.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary top view of a plurality of the jet burnerconstructions of FIG. 10 arranged in the heating apparatus of thisinvention.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 12--12 of FIG.10.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary end view taken in the direction ofthe arrows 13--13 of FIG. 11 and illustrates the outlet ends of two ofthe jet burner constructions of this invention without having the fuelburning at the outlet ends thereof as illustrated in FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 14--14 of FIG.10.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 15--15 of FIG.11.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on lines 16--16 ofFIG. 13.

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 16 and is taken on line 17--17 of FIG.4.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 18--18 of FIG.11.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 19--19 of FIG.11.

FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of the various parts for formingthe jet burner construction of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter illustratedand described as being particularly adapted to provide a burnerconstruction for a jet burner construction application thereof, it is tobe understood that the various features of this invention can beutilized singly or in various combinations thereof to provide a burnerconstruction for other apparatus as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

It is believed that in order to fully understand the features of thisinvention a complete description should be first made of the prior knownburner construction illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 and 17, such prior knownburner construction being disclosed and claimed in a copending patentapplication of Fred Riehl, Ser. No. 805,546 filed Dec. 10, 1991.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the prior known jet burnerconstruction is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 andcomprises a burner body means 11 having a chamber means 12 therein andhaving an inlet means 13 leading to the chamber means 12 for directingfuel, such as natural or synthetic gas, from a fuel source 14 thereinand an outlet means 15 leading from the chamber means 12 and defining anoutlet opening means 16, FIG. 7, through which the fuel is adapted toissue from the chamber means 12 to burn externally to the burner bodymeans 11 as illustrated by the flames 17 in FIG. 2.

The jet burner construction 10 is adapted to be arranged in side-by-sidealigned relation with a plurality of other jet burner constructions 10in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 to be utilized in a heatingapparatus that is generally indicated by the reference numeral 18 inFIG. 2 wherein each jet burner construction 10 is adapted to direct itsflame 17 into an inlet end 19 of a heat tube arrangement 20 whichextracts heat from that flame 17 in an efficient manner that is wellknown in the art. For example, see the Bryant Formula 1000 heatingapparatus of the Carrier Corporation of Syracuse, N.Y. and the Riel U.S.Pat. No. 5,035,609, which U.S. patent is being incorporated into thisdisclosure by this reference thereto.

Therefore, further details of the structure and of the operation of theheating apparatus 18 need not be set forth.

The jet burner construction 10 has the body means 11 thereof formed fromtwo substantially similar sheet metal plates 21 and 22, FIG. 9, suitablystamped and shaped in the configurations illustrated in the drawings sothat when the plates 21 and 22 are disposed together in face-to-facerelation, flange means 23 and 24 of the plate means 22 are folded overagainst the plate means 21 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1 to sealthe plates 21 and 22 together whereby the two plate means 21 and 22readily form the body means 11 of the burner construction 10 insubstantially the same manner as the burner construction set forth inthe aforementioned Riel U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,609.

In one working embodiment of the jet burner construction 10, the platemeans 21 and 22 are each formed from an aluminized steel strip RMS-421that is approximately 0.035 of an inch thick, the resulting burner bodymeans 11 being approximately 5.187 inches in length.

The inlet means 13 of the burner body means 11 defines a substantiallycylindrical wall means 25 that has a plurality of primary air intakeopenings 26 formed therethrough downstream from a substantially circularend opening 27 in which an orifice member 28 is disposed, the orificemember 28 having a threaded portion 29 threadedly disposed in an opening30 formed through integral tab means 31 of the plate 21 which is bent ata right angle thereto. In this manner, fuel from the fuel source 14 isadapted to be directed to the orifice member 28 by a conduit 14', FIG. 2to issue out of an orifice 32 thereof into the chamber means 12 to mixwith the primary air being drawn into the chamber means 12 through theprimary air slots 26 in a manner well known in the art so that the airfuel mixture will pass through a venturi portion 33, FIG. 3, of thechamber means 12 before the same reaches the outlet means 15 of thechamber means 12 to issue out of the outlet opening 16 in a uniquemanner that will be hereinafter set forth.

The plates 21 and 22 that form the burner body means 11 each has a pairof wing-like extensions 34 and 35 extending outwardly therefrom in acoplanar manner so that when the formed plates 21 and 22 are securedtogether by the folded over flange means 23 and 24 to form the burnerbody means 11, the cooperating extensions 34 and 35 define wing-likeextensions that are generally indicated by the reference numeral 34' and35', and that extend from opposed sides of the burner body means 11adjacent the outlet end means 15 thereof.

The wing-like extensions 34 and 35 of the plate 21 are respectivelystepped upwardly as illustrated and have a plurality of dimples 36formed therein to respectively engage against the surfaces 37 of thewing-like extensions 34 and 35 of the other plate 22 so as to space thefacing surfaces 37 of the cooperating pairs of wing-like structures 34and 35 from each other to define a fuel issuing slot means 38therebetween that respectively interconnects to the chamber means 12 andthe outlet opening 16 so that fuel can issue from the slot means 38 ofthe wing-like extensions 34' and 35' to define front end carry-overignition flame means 39 as illustrated in FIG. 2 for multiple burnerignition propagation purposes in the apparatus 18 in a manner well knownin the art so that only ignition structure need be provided for one ofthe jet burner constructions 10 in the apparatus 18 and the other burnerconstructions 10 will be ignited therefrom in a series manner as is wellknown in the art.

However, in order to prevent delayed ignition due to poor alignment ofthe burner constructions 10, the wing-like extension 34 of the plate 21and the wing-like extension 35 of the plate 22 of each burner body means11 is provided with tabs 40 and 41 which are disposed or stepped out ofthe plane of the respective wing-like extensions 35 so as to provide theoverlapping linked arrangement with the nonstepped tabs 40' and 41'illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the adjacent burner constructions 10when the jet burner constructions 10 are arranged in aligned relation asillustrated. Similar alignment means are set forth in the Riel U.S. Pat.No. 4,179,261, whereby this patent is being incorporated into thisdisclosure by this reference thereto.

The slots 38 in the wing-like extensions 34' and 35' extend respectivelyalong the entire respective leading edge means 100 and 101 thereof asillustrated in FIG. 2 and through which the carry-over flames 102 and103 can issue as the same are being fed fuel from the chamber means 12at a point downstream from the venturi section 33 and then out betweenthe spaced edge means 104 and 105 of the respective wing-like sections34' and 35' as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6.

It was found according to the teachings of the invention set forth inthe Riel U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,839 whereby this U.S. patent is beingincorporated into this disclosure by this reference thereto, that eventhough the extensions 34 and 35 of the upper plate 21 have the leadingedges 100 and 101 thereof spaced above the leading edges 100 and 101 ofthe wing-like extensions 34 and 35 of the lower plate 22 by the dimples36 so as to define the height of the outlet slot 38 to be approximately0.042 of an inch throughout the lengths of the edges 100 and 101, thetriangular portions 106 of the extensions 34 and 35 of the plate 22 thatare bounded by the converging lines 107 and 108 from the respective edgemeans 104 should be uniformly stepped downwardly beyond the surface 37of the extensions 34 and 35 of the plate 22 so as to provide sufficientfuel to issue out of the outlet slots 38 even at one-third turn downrate of pressure on natural gas or propane gas.

In particular, the triangular sections 106 are stepped downwardly so asto provide a height thereof below the cooperating surfaces 37 on theextensions 34 and 35 of the plate 21 to be approximately 0.093 of aninch throughout the entire surface area of the sections 106 asillustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.

In the one working embodiment of the burner construction 10, whereineach slot 38 has the height of 0.042 of an inch, the resulting chamber109 between the respective triangular section 106 and the surface 37 ofthe upper plate 21 has a height of approximately 0.093 of an inch, thelength from a juncture point 111 of the lines 107 and 108 to the centerline or central longitudinal axis of the body means 11 of the respectiveburner construction 10 is approximately 1.265 inches long. Such chambers109 insure sufficient fuel flow to issue from the outlet slots 38 of thewing-like extensions 34' and 35' for flame propagation at a one-thirdturn down rate (0.4 of an inch) pressure on natural gas and (1.1 inches)pressure using propane fuel. This increased fuel entrainment forcarry-over purposes intercepts the main fuel flow chamber means 12 andpermits fuel flow through the 0.093 of an inch sections or chambers 109to be expelled through the 0.042 of an inch carry-over flame port slots38 whereby the geometry of the fuel flow pressure enhancement results insuccessful flame propagation with carry-over widths of 3 inches and 31/2inches on one-third rate operation of the burner construction 10.

Thus, it can be seen that the stepped sections 106 of the plate 22 forthe burner constructions 10 uniquely supply fuel to the outlet slots 38for flame propagation purposes during the use of the burner construction10 as previously set forth and hereinafter described.

The outlet end means 15 of the burner body means 11 has its wall means42 defining substantially cylindrical portions 43 and 43' at each endthereof and a plurality of fluted portions 44 intermediate the portions43 and 43' thereof, each flute 44 comprising a substantially U-shapedportion 45 that has an outlet opening portion 46 defined thereby andradiating outwardly from a central part 47 of the outlet means 16 andbeing interconnected thereto. The radiating portions 46 in the oneworking embodiment of the burner body 11 being four in number and beingdisposed substantially 90° apart from the adjacent portions 46 andhaving outer closed ends 48 thereof defining a circular configurationthat is substantially concentric to the central part 47 of the openingmeans 16 that also defines a substantially circular configuration, theopening means 16 being defined by a plane 16' passing through the middleof the flutes 44 and being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 16" ofthe respective burner construction 10 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 7.

The two portions 46 on opposite sides of the outlet opening 15interconnect with the slot means 38 of the wing-like extensions 34' and35' of the resulting jet burner constructions 10 so as to supply fuelthereto from the chamber means 12.

In this manner, it was found that the flows of fuel issuing out of theoutlet opening means 16 at the portions 46 and central part 47 thereofmerge together in a turbulent manner externally to the outlet openingmeans 16 to provide for improved fuel combustion while maintaining theport velocity of the fuel being injected therefrom without requiringinternal turbulent enhancers as in the prior known jet burnerconstructions. It was also found that the resulting flame means 17 ofthe burner construction 10 has a distinct outer and inner mantle of theflame characteristics which results from the improved fuel combustion.

In the one working embodiment of the jet burner construction 10, eachradiating portion 46 and the outlet opening means 16 has the outer part48 thereof defining a circle that is approximately 1.000 inch indiameter with the spacing between the legs of the portion 46 beingapproximately 0.186 of an inch, the throat of the venturi portion 33being spaced from the inlet end opening 27 approximately 2.662 inchesand the cylindrical wall means 25 at the inlet end means 13 beingapproximately 1.250 of an inch in diameter. The flutes 44 begin atapproximately 3.682 of an inch from the inlet opening 27, terminateapproximately 0.187 of an inch from the end edge means 25', areapproximately 1.318 inches long and each has the closed end 48 thereofdefined by a radius that is approximately 0.093 of an inch.

The jet burner construction 10 further comprises flame retainer meansthat is generally indicated by the reference numeral 50 and asillustrated in FIG. 9 comprises two parts 51 and 52 each being integraland one-piece with its respective plate means 21 or 22.

In particular, the parts 51 and 52 of the flame retainer means 50respectively comprise the part of the plate means 21 and 22 that extendfrom the resulting outlet opening means 16 to the end edge means 25',the parts 51 and 52 respectively defining semi-circular end sections 51'and 52' that are stepped outwardly from and extend beyond thecylindrical end 43' of the outlet means 25 as well as beyond thewing-like extensions 34' and 35' in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1.End edge means 51" and 52" of the sections 51' and 52' of the members 51and 52 are beveled as illustrated.

It is believed that with such a flame retention means 50, the flameretention means 50 prevent flows of induced air from being created alongthe areas 60 of the fluted arrangement 61 and thereby would tend toprevent flame blow off that would cause unburned fuel to enter into theheat exchanger tubes 20 of the heating apparatus 18 whereby thecombustion results of the fuel issuing from the outlet opening 16 wouldbe greatly enhanced by the flame retention or retainer means 50 insubstantially the same manner as the flame retainer means of theaforementioned Riel U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,609.

Therefore, it can be seen that it is a relatively simple method to formthe jet burner construction 10 from two suitably stamped and formedplate means 21 and 22 and that is adapted to operate in a manner now tobe described.

As previously stated, once the jet burner construction 10 has beenproperly mounted in a suitable apparatus, such as the heating apparatus18 illustrated in FIG. 2, fuel is adapted to be directed into thechamber means 12 of that burner construction 10 through suitable conduitmeans 14' leading from the fuel source 14 so that the same will drawprimary air through the openings 26 into the chamber means 12 and passthrough the venturi means 33 to issue out of the outlet end means 15after passing through the outlet opening means 16 thereof into the fourflow paths provided by the radiating portions 46 of the opening means 16to combine with the fuel issuing out of the central part 47 of theopening means 16 in a turbulent manner that can be ignited by anysuitable ignition means so that the resulting flame means 17 will bedirected into the inlet 19 of the heat exchanger tube 20 to have heatextracted therefrom in a manner well known in the art, the lit burnerconstruction 10 creating the propagating side flame means 102 and 103along the wing-like portions 34' and 35' thereof for igniting theissuing fuel from adjacent burner constructions 10 in the mannerpreviously set forth.

As previously stated, the enlarged chambers 109 in the wing-likeextensions 34' and 35' insure sufficient fuel to flow to the outletslots 38 to produce the carry-over flames 102 and 103 even on a reducedrate of fuel flow into the main chamber means 12.

Also as previously stated, the flame retention or retainer means 50prevents secondary air from being created that might blow the flame 17off of the outlet opening means 16 as the retention means 50 preventsair from being induced along the outside of the spaces 60 between theflutes 44 for the reasons previously set forth.

However, as previously stated, it is one of the features of thisinvention to tend to improve the flow pattern of the flame means 17issuing from the burner constructions 10 previously described and theburner construction of this invention for accomplishing this feature isgenerally indicated by the reference numeral 10A in FIGS. 11-16 and18-20 and parts thereof that are similar to the parts of the burnerconstruction 10 previously described are indicated by like referencenumerals followed by the reference letter "A".

As illustrated in FIGS. 11-16 and 18-20, it can be seen that the burnerconstruction 10A of this invention is substantially identical to theburner construction 10 previously described except that the flutes 44Adefine the fluted arrangement 61A with its opposed ends 62A and 63Abeing uniquely different.

In particular, the end 62A of the fluted arrangement 61A of the burnerconstruction 10A is substantially identical to the like end 62 of thefluted arrangement 61 of the burner construction 10 previously describedwhereas the end 63A of the fluted portion 61A of the burner construction10A of this invention abruptly expands outwardly at a right angle to thelongitudinal axis 16"A, FIG. 12, of the burner body means 11A ratherthan inclining at an angle axially along the longitudinal axis 16" as inthe burner construction 10 previously described.

For example, it can be seen in FIG. 13 that each burner construction 10Ahas four like parts 65A at the end 63A of the fluted portion 61A thatare respectively separated by the flutes 44A, each part 65A beingsubstantially disposed at an abrupt right angle relative to theremainder 66A of the fluted arrangement or portion 61A as fullyillustrated in FIGS. 12 and 16. In contrast, it can be seen in FIG. 17that the prior known burner construction 10 has each part 65 disposed atan inclined angle relative to the remaining part 66 with the same makinga relatively large radius 67 with the remainder 66 whereas each part 65Aof the burner construction 10A of this invention make a relatively smallradius 67A with the remainder 66A.

In particular, in one working embodiment of the burner construction 10Aof this invention, the radius 67A for each part 65A is approximately0.025 of an inch whereas the radius 67 of each part 65 of the prior knowburner construction 10 is approximately 0.100 of an inch.

It has been found that when the gas flow through the opening means 16 or16A reaches the end 63 or 63A of the fluted portion 61 or 61A of theburner construction 10 or 10A, the flow of fuel tends to follow thecontour of the inner edges 68 or 68A of the parts 65 and 65A asrepresented by the dashed lines 69 and 69A in FIG. 3 or FIG. 12. Thus,it can be seen in FIG. 16 that the gas flow line 69A is less influencedby the sharp or abrupt curved edge 68A than by the more gradual curvededge 68 of the prior art burner construction 10 as illustrated in FIG.17 wherein the gas flow line 69 tends to follow the curve of the edge 68more than in the burner construction 10A of this invention. Also, it canbe seen in FIG. 3 that the dashed lines 69 tend to define the flame 17as spreading more radially outwardly from the axis 16' in contrast tothe less expanding dashed lines 69A that define the flame 17A issuingfrom the burner construction 10A of this invention as illustrated inFIG. 12.

Therefore, since the burner construction 10A of this invention functionsin the same general manner as the burner construction 10 previouslydescribed, it is believed that a further description of the operation ofthe burner construction 10A is not necessary except to state that it isbelieved that the burner constructions 10A perform in a manner to assurethat the flames 17A thereof respectively enter the inlet ends 18A of theheater tubes 20 of the apparatus 18A without extending beyond theopenings 19A thereof as might be the case with the burner constructions10 if the flames 17 thereof spread radially outwardly to too large anextent by the more gradual angled edges 68 at the end 63 of the flutedarrangement or portion 61 thereof.

Accordingly, it can be seen that this invention not only provides a newjet burner construction and a new method of making the same, but alsothis invention provides a new heating apparatus utilizing such a jetburner construction and a new method of making the same.

While the forms and methods of this invention now preferred have beenillustrated and described as required by the Patent Statute, it is to beunderstood that other forms and method steps can be utilized and stillfall within the scope of the appended claims wherein each claim setsforth what is believed to be known in each claim prior to this inventionin the portion of each claim that is disposed before the terms "theimprovement" and sets forth what is believed to be new in each claimaccording to this invention in the portion of each claim that isdisposed after the terms "the improvement" whereby it is believed thateach claim sets forth a novel, useful and unobvious invention within thepurview of the Patent Statute.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a jet burner construction comprising a burnerbody means having a chamber means therein and having an inlet meansleading to said chamber means for directing fuel from a fuel sourcetherein and an outlet means leading from said chamber means and definingan outlet opening means through which said fuel is adapted to issue fromsaid chamber means to burn externally to said burner body means, saidburner body means having a longitudinal axis extending between saidinlet means and said outlet means, said outlet opening means having acentral opening part and a plurality of spaced apart opening portionsinterconnected thereto and radiating outwardly therefrom whereby flowsof fuel respectively issuing out of said portions and said central partof said outlet opening means merge together in a turbulent mannerexternally of said outlet opening means, said burner constructioncomprising flame retainer means carried by said body means and havingouter edge means extending beyond said outlet opening means of said bodymeans to prevent flows of induced air from being created between theflows of fuel issuing from said radiating portions of said outletopening means, said burner body means being formed of two generallysimilar body sections secured together in superimposed relation and eachhaving generally one-half of said outlet opening means and one-half ofsaid flame retainer means thereon, said body means having opposed endsand having a fluted portion disposed spaced from and intermediate saidopposed ends of said body means and having opposed ends, said flutedportion defining said central opening part and said radiating portionsof said outlet opening means, said outlet opening means being generallylocated in the middle of said fluted portion, said fluted portionexpanding and extending axially beyond said central opening part at saidopposed ends thereof, one of said opposed ends of said fluted portioncomprising part of said flame retainer means, said flame retainer meansalso comprising a generally ring-like structure between said one of saidopposed ends of said fluted portion and one of said ends of said bodymeans, each one-half of said flame retainer means being integral andone-piece with its respective body section, the improvement wherein saidone of said opposed ends of said fluted portion expands outwardlysubstantially at a sharper angle to said longitudinal axis than theother of said opposed ends of said fluted portion.
 2. A jet burnerconstruction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one of said opposedends of said fluted portion has a plurality of parts respectivelyseparated by said radiating portions of said outlet opening means thatexpand substantially at a right angle from said central opening part ofsaid outlet opening means to said ring-like structure.
 3. A jet burnerconstruction as set forth in claim 2 wherein each said part of said oneof said opposed ends of said fluted portion joins with the remainder ofsaid fluted portion with a small radius.
 4. A jet burner construction asset forth in claim 3 wherein said small radius is approximately 0.025 ofan inch.
 5. A jet burner construction as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid burner body means has wing-like extensions respectively disposed onopposite sides thereof for respectively interconnecting with adjacentwing-like extensions of adjacent burner constructions, each body sectionhaving generally one-half of said wing-like extensions thereon.
 6. A jetburner construction as set forth in claim 5 wherein said wing-likeextensions each has an elongated outlet slot means interconnecting withsaid outlet opening means and through which fuel is adapted to issue soas to burn external to said wing-like extensions.
 7. In a heatingapparatus comprising a heating tube means provided with an inlet and ajet burner construction comprising a burner body means having a chambermeans therein and having an inlet means leading to said chamber meansfor directing fuel from a fuel source therein and an outlet meansleading from said chamber means and defining an outlet opening meansthrough which said fuel is adapted to issue from said chamber means toburn externally to said burner body means and enter said heating tubemeans through said inlet thereof, said burner body means having alongitudinal axis extending between said inlet means and said outletmeans, said outlet opening means having a central opening part and aplurality of spaced apart opening portions interconnected thereto andradiating outwardly therefrom whereby flows of fuel respectively issuingout of said portions and said central part of said outlet opening meansmerge together in a turbulent manner externally of said outlet openingmeans, said burner construction comprising flame retainer means carriedby said body means and having outer edge means extending beyond saidoutlet opening means of said body means to prevent flows of induced airfrom being created between the flows of fuel issuing from said radiatingportions of said outlet opening means, said burner body means beingformed of two generally similar body sections secured together insuperimposed relation and each having generally one-half of said outletopening means and one-half of said flame retainer means thereon, saidbody means having opposed ends and having a fluted portion disposedspaced from and intermediate said opposed ends of said body means andhaving opposed ends, said fluted portion defining said central openingpart and said radiating portions of said outlet opening means, saidoutlet opening means being generally located in the middle of saidfluted portion, said fluted portion expanding and extending axiallybeyond said central opening part at said opposed ends thereof, one ofsaid opposed ends of said fluted portion comprising part of said flameretainer means, said flame retainer means also comprising a generallyring-like structure between said one of said opposed ends of said flutedportion and one of said opposed ends of said body means, each one-halfof said flame retainer means being integral and one-piece with itsrespective body section, the improvement wherein said one of saidopposed ends of said fluted portion expands outwardly substantially at asharper angle to said longitudinal axis than the other of said opposedends of said fluted portion.
 8. A heating apparatus as set forth inclaim 7 wherein said one of said opposed ends of said fluted portion hasa plurality of parts respectively separated by said radiating portionsof said outlet opening means that expand substantially at a right anglefrom said central opening part of said outlet opening means to saidring-like structure.
 9. A heating apparatus as set forth in claim 8wherein each said part of said one of said opposed ends of said flutedportion joins with the remainder of said fluted portion with a smallradius.
 10. A heating apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein saidsmall radius is approximately 0.025 of an inch.
 11. A heating apparatusas set forth in claim 7 wherein said burner body means has wing-likeextensions respectively disposed on opposite sides thereof forrespectively interconnecting with adjacent wing-like extensions ofadjacent burner constructions, each body section having generallyone-half of said wing-like extensions thereon.
 12. A heating apparatusas set forth in claim 11 wherein said wing-like extensions each has anelongated outlet slot means interconnecting with said outlet openingmeans and through which fuel is adapted to issue so as to burn externalto said wing-like extensions.
 13. In a method of making a jet burnerconstruction comprising a burner body means having a chamber meanstherein and having an inlet means leading to said chamber means fordirecting fuel from a fuel source therein and an outlet means leadingfrom said chamber means and defining an outlet opening means throughwhich said fuel is adapted to issue from said chamber means to burnexternally to said burner body means, said burner body means having alongitudinal axis extending between said inlet means and said outletmeans, said outlet opening means having a central opening part and aplurality of spaced apart opening portions interconnected thereto andradiating outwardly therefrom whereby flows of fuel respectively issuingout of said portions and said central part of said outlet opening meansmerge together in a turbulent manner externally of said outlet openingmeans, said burner construction comprising flame retainer means carriedby said body means and having outer edge means extending beyond saidoutlet opening means of said body means to prevent flows of induced airfrom being created between the flows of fuel issuing from said radiatingportions of said outlet opening means, said burner body means beingformed of two generally similar body sections secured together insuperimposed relation and each having generally one-half of said outletopening means and one-half of said flame retainer means thereon, saidbody means having opposed ends and having a fluted portion disposedspaced from and intermediate said opposed ends of said body means andhaving opposed ends, said fluted portion defining said central openingpart and said radiating portions of said outlet opening means, saidoutlet opening means being generally located in the middle of saidfluted portion, said fluted portion expanding and extending axiallybeyond said central opening part at said opposed ends thereof, one ofsaid opposed ends of said fluted portion comprising part of said flameretainer means, said flame retainer means also comprising a generallyring-like structure between said one of said opposed ends of said flutedportion and one of said opposed ends of said body means, each one-halfof said flame retainer means being integral and one-piece with itsrespective body section, the improvement comprising the step of formingsaid one of said opposed ends of said fluted portion to expand outwardlysubstantially at a sharper angle to said longitudinal axis than theother of said opposed ends of said fluted portion.
 14. A method ofmaking a jet burner construction as set forth in claim 13 and comprisingthe step of forming said one of said opposed ends of said fluted portionto have a plurality of parts respectively separated by said radiatingportions of said outlet opening means that expand substantially at aright angle from said central opening part of said outlet opening meansto said ring-like structure.
 15. A method of making a jet burnerconstruction as set forth in claim 14 and comprising the step of formingeach said part of said one of said opposed ends of said fluted portionto join with the remainder of said fluted portion with a small radius.16. A method of making a jet burner construction as set forth in claim15 and comprising the step of forming said small radius to beapproximately 0.025 of an inch.
 17. A method of making a jet burnerconstruction as set forth in claim 13 and comprising the step of formingsaid burner body means to have wing-like extensions respectivelydisposed on opposite sides thereof for respectively interconnecting withadjacent wing-like extensions of adjacent burner constructions, eachbody section having generally one-half of said wing-like extensionsthereon.
 18. A method of making a jet burner construction as set forthin claim 17 and comprising the step of forming said wing-like extensionsto each have an elongated outlet slot means interconnecting with saidoutlet opening means and through which fuel is adapted to issue so as toburn external to said wing-like extensions.
 19. In a method of making aheating apparatus comprising a heating tube means provided with an inletand a jet burner construction comprising a burner body means having achamber means therein and having an inlet means leading to said chambermeans for directing fuel from a fuel source therein and an outlet meansleading from said chamber means and defining an outlet opening meansthrough which said fuel is adapted to issue from said chamber means toburn externally to said burner body means and enter said heating tubemeans through said inlet thereof, said burner body means having alongitudinal axis extending between said inlet means and said outletmeans, said outlet opening means having a central opening part and aplurality of spaced apart opening portions interconnected thereto andradiating outwardly therefrom whereby flows of fuel respectively issuingout of said portions and said central part of said outlet opening meansmerge together in a turbulent manner externally of said outlet openingmeans, said burner construction comprising flame retainer means carriedby said body means and having outer edge means extending beyond saidoutlet opening means of said body means to prevent flows of induced airfrom being created between the flows of fuel issuing from said radiatingportions of said outlet opening means, said burner body means beingformed of two generally similar body sections secured together insuperimposed relation and each having generally one-half of said outletopening means and one-half of said flame retainer means thereon, saidbody means having opposed ends and having a fluted portion disposedspaced from and intermediate said opposed ends of said body means andhaving opposed ends, said fluted portion defining said central openingpart and said radiating portions of said outlet opening means, saidoutlet opening means being generally located in the middle of saidfluted portion, said fluted portion expanding and extending axiallybeyond said central opening part at said opposed ends thereof, one ofsaid opposed ends of said fluted portion comprising part of said flameretainer means, said flame retainer means also comprising a generallyring-like structure between said one of said opposed ends of said flutedportion and one of said opposed ends of said body means, each one-halfof said flame retainer means being integral and one-piece with itsrespective body section, the improvement comprising the step of formingsaid one of said opposed ends of said fluted portion to expand outwardlysubstantially at a sharper angle to said longitudinal axis than theother of said opposed ends of said fluted portion.
 20. A method ofmaking a heating apparatus as set forth in claim 19 and comprising thestep of forming said one of said opposed ends of said fluted portion tohave a plurality of parts respectively separated by said radiatingportions of said outlet opening means that expand substantially at aright angle from said central opening part of said outlet opening meansto said ring-like structure.